Chain ladders saved lives

Investigators say at least two Irish Hills residents used devices to flee blaze.

Investigators say at least two Irish Hills residents used devices to flee blaze.

April 25, 2006|JOSHUA STOWE Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- At least two people escaped Saturday's early morning fire at the Irish Hills apartment complex using chain ladders, investigators said Monday. Consumers can buy a similar ladder -- two parallel chains, connected with rungs, that stretch up to about 15 feet -- for about $30 at a local retail or home improvement store. Irish Hills supplies chain ladders for at least some of its upper-level units, a spokesman said. The blaze, which killed 31-year-old Darrin Joseph Emmons, began accidentally while Emmons was cooking on a gas stove inside his apartment, fire officials said. After it started, Emmons shut off his stove and carried a flaming pan onto his balcony, according to Assistant Fire Chief Howard Buchanon. "I think he was running back and forth trying to stop it," said Buchanon, adding that firefighters found Emmons' body about 3 or 4 feet from the door of his apartment. "The fire overcame him, and he found himself trapped inside." St. Joseph County Coroner Michael O'Connell said an autopsy revealed that Emmons died of smoke inhalation. Buchanon said firefighters found two chain ladders that had been used, leading them to believe that at least two people escaped because of the devices. One of them was 26-year-old Neamen Berhanu, a third-floor resident. "I went to my door, but I couldn't get out because of all the flames and the heat," he told The Tribune on Saturday. "I went to the back window and broke it out and put the chain ladder out the window." By supplying such ladders, Irish Hills has gone beyond the minimum requirements outlined in the state's fire code, said Andy Zirkle, a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security's division of fire and safety. Fire regulations call for apartment residents to have two ways of escape from any given floor, he said, adding the ladders are an extra means of escape. "My understanding would be that they went above and beyond," he said. It was not immediately clear how many of Irish Hills' upper-level apartments have such ladders. Mike Culver, a spokesman for the company that runs the complex, said the ladders are kept in boxes by bedroom window sills. He referred further questions to Tim Beurmann, the Irish Hills property manager, who did not immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment. Meanwhile, employees for the Mishawaka Meijer and Menards stores said their stores sell chain ladders for about $30 or a little more, depending on the length.Staff writer Joshua Stowe: jstowe@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6359